Small Ships, River Cruises, Expedition Cruises, Barges & Yachts
Small ship cruising is growing, and many small companies occupy this niche. Small ships include river cruises, paddlewheelers, clipper ships, expedition ships, larger yachts that cruise the world, Turkish gulets and smaller cruise ships that carry fewer than 250 passengers.
Just about every navigable river in the world can provide some type of river cruise experience. Our small ship and river cruise experts can help you navigate to the vessel right for you.
River Cruises
River cruising, primarily along Europe's, Asia's and North and South America's waterways, has been around for many years. Whether along the Danube, Yangtze, Amazon or Mississippi, many cities were built on riverbanks to provide trading routes.
In recent years river cruises have "come of age" and have become very popular, particularly in Europe after 1992, when the Rhine and Danube were connected, providing 2,200 miles of unobstructed waterways through 15 countries.
River cruises offer a very different experience from an opcean-going cruise ship. There's an unhurried pace that travelers find compelling, and an emphasis on cultural discoveries and an authentic taste of daily life. Many new vessels have been adn continue to be built, and the quality of the product has evolved.
Within the river cruise category there are luxury cruises like Intrav, Amadeus Waterways and Peter Dielmann, premium cruises like Uniworld and Viking River Cruises, and contemporary cruise styles like Avalon Waterways.
Of course, river cruising is not exclusive to Europe. The opening of tourism in China led to huge growth in Yangtze River Cruises, and this vacation product has evolved in Russia, the Nile River in Egypt, the Amazon, and rivers in the United States. We invite you to read more about European River Cruise Vacations, American River Cruise Vacations, and China Yangtze River cruises. For Nile and Amazon cruising, please contact us, or preview Aqua Expeditions on the Peru's upper Amazon.
Paddlewheelers bring memories of an earlier day when these type of vessels plied America's rivers transporting passengers and cargo. Today, Delta Queen Steamboat and America West Steamboat offer vacations by modern paddlewheeler. Both these companies now operate under the umbrella of Majestic America Line, which also owns deluxe small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises.
You can view current offers of these featured river cruise products:
America West Steamboat (USA)
Avalon Waterways (Europe)
Peter Dielmann (Europe)
Uniworld (Europe & China)
Viking River Cruises (Europe & China)
Small Ship Cruises, Expedition Cruises
In addition to river cruises, there are a number of smaller ship cruise products available, of which some are referred to as expedition cruises. In the luxury cruise sector, these include The Yachts of Seabourn, Windstar Cruises and SeaDream Yacht Club. In the premium/contemporary category would be Cruise West and Star Clippers, with its authentic clipper ships.
More off-beat offerings that can fall under the expedition cruise label are available with Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages), Lindblad Expeditions and Orion Expedition Cruises.
You can search current offers for some of our featured small ship cruises below, or contact one of our small ship specialists for more information.
Hurtigruten
Tauck
Windstar
Barges, Yacht Charters
Barges generally accommodate from 4 to 12 passengers. Barge cruises are ideal for chartering by couples or families for a vacation, though a number take individual bookings. The barge cruise experience provides a live-aboard captain and cook, and offers a relaxing and refreshing slow-paced adventure ideal for enjoying good food and enticing countryside experiences.
Finally there are crewed yacht charters, which are available around the world. Based on your requirements, we can assist you in chartering a yacht to meet your requirements. Read more about crewed yacht vacations.
Whatever your preference, our Small Ship and River Cruise Experts are ready to assist you.
